Charles speak



"trui-od time @tutti tjfjire i Laim Parent/N. 101,174, am@ um l22, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN BU'BMRINE TUNNEL'S.

The Schedule referred tov in 'those' Letton Petont and making pm o! the same.

INH-1mm it' may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES Spann, of New York,

in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and valuable vImprovement in Marine Structures; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of `the construction and operation of thc same, reference belrad to the annexed drawings making a partof this specification and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure lof the drawings is a representation of a longitudinal section of my tunnel in plan.

igurel2 isatransversevertical-seotionof #hammer My invention relates to.. submarine tunnels and other works of similar nature, and consists mainly in the' 1 construction' and novel arrangement thereof, whereby a submarine structure may be formed of frame-, vork and concrete on land or on the surface of the water, floated to its place of destination, and

sunk into position.

The drawings represent my submarine tunnel, consistingof a flattened tube of oval or nearly oval crosssection, built en tilely'on land or on the surface ofthe water, in tlre following manner:

rlfhe profile ofthe river-bed having been taken, the

kelsonis laid as if for a canal boat, of the requisite length` to reach entirely across the bed vfrom bank to' bank. .Mytunnel is, .in fact, a boat, ,andfsimilarly' constructed A A. represent the' ribs, to'fthe'inner surface of which are theceillng and .ilooring1a.

The ribs are also covered on the outside with strong plsnking'c. I 1 f 1 The spaces bejtWe'h the ribs', and between theceiling' and flooring fand. the plankihg, arev filled jin :with beton, concrete, or a similar composition, z: Thi planks are A secured both inside and outside by 'Iboltssand trerallnexactly aszinl ship-building, and

The'ends of the. tunnels areA formed with an upward curve,ftooorrespond with 'the sudden slope of each river-bank, andr of suicient'length that, when the tunnel issnnk intoplace, they'will notbe entirely submerged.' The ent-ire outside surface of the structure is coated with concrete, to rendcrit weight-y,y

durable, and waterproof. .The tunnel is now floated toits place of destination, and anchored across the river` directly overits prepared bed at the bottom thereof'. f

Suitable guidesbeing driven on each side of the tunnel, the water .is let in through openings arranged for the purpose, thereby allowing the tunnel to sink gradually toits position on the river-bottom. It is now fastened down securely to .its place, and, the inlet-openings having been closed, the water is pumped out, leaving adry, serviceable, and water-proof passage under ther-Iver from bank to bank.`

The tunnel may be permanently secured to its bed by driving, 'from the inside, rows of spikes o r 'anchoring-screws, e e, having coarse threads, into the soil of the river-bed, arranging them kou each side to slant outward as wellas downward into the earth. y

My invention is applicable to the construction of other marine works. Hollow piers, breakwaters, the foundations of houses,&c.', may be builtin this manner, floated to their destinations, andsunk into place, thus saving much of the expense of such f submarine works incidental to the usual methods ot' forming them, or putting tlem together under water;

I am aware-that submarine tunnels have been construct'ed in sections.: I `do not claim such tunnels; but What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

The .ioating water-proof tunnel or other marine work herein described, having frame A, concrete covcling and 'filling z, and fastening-screws or anchors e e, Vwhen built above water in one entirestrucfure, and

arranged to be iioated to itsdestination' and sunk into place, as specified.,

In testimony that I claim. the above, I have hereunto subscribed Amy-name in the presence of two wit tresses.

CHARLES SPEAR.

Witnesses:

E. W; Ammon. Oms.; Kmox. 

